RESEARCH: SOUND - MRS. QUINLAN

What is sound? Why is it used in films?

Sound is another micro-element which plays a massive part of the moving image. It refers to everything the audience can hear such as dialogue, soundtrack and background noises. Sound changes according to the setting and action. It can create different moods and when used well with other microelements it gives the scene and the audience a much intense effect. Sounds in films are important because they have the biggest effect on the viewer. This is because it is the sound effects that make the scene intense together with editing. However if the sound is rapid and high pitched it makes the spectator insecure which is the outcome of thriller.

 

Godwin Theory:

Godwin is a theorist who has made a rule involving sound and editing. According to him editing and sound should accompany each other to maximize their effect on the audience. When both go along consistently and smoothly then it becomes more natural for the audience so they can feel the realism of the scene. However this rule can be broken and an example of that would be contrapuntal sound where the sound is completely different form the scene’s narrative. This sequence form a spy thriller Skyfall compliments Godwin's theory. During the scene Bond starts to fight other characters (2:58). This is when the fast paced editing works with the fast non-diegetic sound to create suspense and thrill for the viewer. They work together to reflect action. This proposes Godwin's theory because editing and sound accompany each other for an effect.

 

The different sound techniques involve:

Diegetic Sound: this is when the sound is compatible with the film world. It is part of the scene and the audience understands it fully. The sound makes sense for the spectator. This is an example of a diegetic sound from the thriller Scream where two characters have a conversation. This is an example of a diegetic sound as the spectator knows where it is coming from and it makes sense to them.

 

Non Diegetic Sound: this sound is not part of the film world and doesn’t make sense to the viewer as they are unsure of where it is coming from. This includes soundtracks and narration. This is the trailer of the horror thriller the Insidious. The non-diegetic sound is the background soundtrack which constantly plays over the clip. It is much more intense at 1:25 where it is loud and creates tension and thrill for the viewer. This makes the video much more chaotic and stimulating for the audience. This is an example of a non-diegetic sound as it is an added sound that isn’t part of the film world.

 














On Screen Sound: onscreen sounds are all the things we hear and see where they are coming from so it makes sense to the viewer. It is part of the scene and the spectator knows where the sound originates from. Some onscreen sounds include radios, shooting guns and most other sounds as long as the viewer can see where it is from. This is an example of an onscreen sound from the Dark Knight scene where the Joker wants Batman to hit him. The onscreen sound of the shooting guns and vehicle engines is evident at 00:17 seconds where Joker is shooting a random car. This is an example of an onscreen sound as the viewer can hear and see at the same time where the sounds emerge from.

Off Screen Sound: off screen sound is the opposite of the onscreen. This means that the sound doesn’t have an exact visible source but makes sense for the viewer and the film world. Some of the off screen sound example is a bell ring which is not physically shown on the screen however it is self-explanatory to the viewer and makes sense for them. An off screen sound example is evident in the film Scream at 0:09 seconds. During a black out the audience can hear a phone ring. This is an example of an off screen sound as although we cannot see the source of the sound it is obvious someone is calling. An off-screen sound can make the spectator nervous as they are as vulnerable as the character.

 

Parallel Sound: this is the expected sound which accompanies a certain setting. This can be described as background noise. For example in school a viewer would expect to hear shouts and laughter from the students. Another example would be playground where the audience would assume to hear laughter, cries and shouting from the kids playing.  Parallel sound makes the scenes much more realistic for the viewer and can create the natural effect of the film. This technique is used it the following clip from the Gone Girl at 1:57. The scene shows a large crowd and police gathering near the characters house. The shouting and chatter is the parallel sound. It makes the audience feel chaotic and quite lost which can build up the thrill.

 

 

 

Contrapuntal Sound: when the sound does not match the setting or action at all. It juxtaposes the scene completely. An example of this would be when someone gets brutally killed by surprise and rather than using a fast and thrilling non diegetic sound there is classical music playing in the background which doesn’t support the idea of murder. An example of a contrapuntal sound is used in the film Face Off. The onscreen contrapuntal sound is evident when the characters fight but there is a non-diegetic sound of a calm tune which contrasts the shooting action. This makes the audience question what is happening and can involve them more as they are curious about what is happening. Contrapuntal sound breaks Godwin’s theory.

 

Further Analysis of my Chosen Scene:

 

I have decided to analyse the sound techniques from the action thriller movie called Wanted. The scene is about Wesley who just finds out about the money he has received and decided to quit his job in style. He tells his boss and so-called best friend what he thinks about them. At the begging there is a non-diegetic sound which is just low in the background; presenting the monotony of everyday working life.  It fills in the silence of the office and sets it up for the next scene which is when Wesley’s boss comes in and the non-diegetic sound changes from low to much more intense and toxic which shows that Wesley’s inner self is being invaded by someone he truly dislikes. Further on the diegetic on-screen sound is used when the boss is clicking the stapler twice into Wesley’s ear. The sound of clicking is very loud and the audience can almost feel like they are in Wesley’s place which makes them feel pity for him. Moreover the on-screen sound of clicking is continuous but together with all the other parallel sound of background noises it is distorted and slowed down. It makes an emphasis of Wesley’s feelings as we enter his inner thoughts and the chaos going on within him. In addition there is a diegetic off-screen sound of a heart beat which increases in its vigour as the scene progresses and gets continuously louder together with the non-diegetic soundtrack. All these sounds build up and the audience feels oppressed and in chaos. It also builds up in tension as we expect all the pressure to be released anytime soon. As the noises get to its optimum state we hear a diegetic on-screen sound of Wesley shouting at his boss. All the noises stop and there is a clear binary opposite which is noticeable for the audience. We see all the tension being released and the audience feels relieved that the protagonist stood up for himself. He then decided to destroy his boss’s stapler which has been terrorizing him just a moment ago. It is emphasized with a slow motion compliments slow on-screen sound of crashing which proposes Godwin's theory and emphasises significance this iconography had on our protagonist. This made the spectators shocked as Wesley went against the rules. However we feel relieved as we know it was unfair and tough for him. Lastly as Wesley leaves his work place the non-diegetic sound has become much louder and supreme. The sound is very rock themed and has a strong beat which implies the power and confidence that Wesley has gained. In addition this non diegetic soundtrack is repeated throughout the movie showing consistency and reinforcing the moments when the protagonist is at his best.

 

Conclusion:

In conclusion, I have learned how significant sound is and how it sets up the whole scene. I know how important it is to use the right intensity and kind of sounds to make a good thriller. On top of that it was very beneficial to learn the different techniques and analyse them in other films so I have a better idea of how to use and manipulate sound in order to get a specific reaction from the audience. Looking at different thrillers allowed me to see how important it is to have a constant music or any form of sound so the scene has a feeling of fulfilment. However there are exceptions and no sound can be used when we try to emphasize on something significant but there needs to be a clear contrast so the audience can notice the change. It was also important to learn about Godwin as his theory will help me to make an effective thriller that has an impact on the viewer. Overall from this I have decided that I would like to use some contrapuntal sound as in my opinion is has the most intense effect on the audience and makes the scene distorted and chaotic which involves the spectator more. I also want to use non diegetic sounds to create tension and excitement. In addition I know I will have to play with volume and intensity of different music to create suspense and thrill.